Category: Promotions

Posted on

Stocking Stuffer Fun with Softlips

Are you stumped for the last minute stocking stuffer ideas well look no further since these ideas cover you literally from head to…bum?

Do you recall your parents protecting you from the elements each year by stuffing Chapstick into your stocking? Okay, so maybe my nurse of a mom was the only woman to give Chapstick and Lifesavers. But boot the Chapstick, really, when you get the fabulous feeling and oh so chic look and feel of Softlips lip conditioner.

Why Softlips? Well why not? The packaging is super friendly and with the duo packs you cannot go wrong. They slip ever so discretely in your stocking, purse, or pocket. Above all Softlips lip conditioner keeps your lips moisturized, soft, conditioned, and has a SPF20 for really fighting the elements. Softlips has a limited edition winter flavor duo pack in the following flavors:

  • Sugar and Spice
  • Vanilla and Mint
  • Sugar Plum Berry
  • Sugar Cookie

The Softlips packs retail for $2.99 to $3.99 for the duo pack and they are available at your local Walgreens and Target stores. Hurry though if you or your family love Softlips as these flavors are only available for a limited time.

If you are on Facebook you can fan Softlips and get all their updates on new flavors, offerings, giveaways, and more! However, since you are reading all about Softlips as a fabulous gift idea on my blog, read on to find out how to enter to win THE SET of Softlips winter flavors!

Now this part of the stocking stuffer I had a ton of fun reviewing while I know a lot of my blog friends and “The Chad” were laughing and skeptical.

In the summers of Arizona we have what you may call “swamp ass” or “swamp crotch” and the feeling is not so fresh or friendly. I mean what else do you do? The wonderful folks of Anti Monkey Butt solve this problem. HANDS DOWN! Seriously, you think I am kidding? I am not afraid to say that I hate the rubbing, sweaty feeling of my inner thighs, or ladies…the sweaty bust? You know what I mean. Laugh it up chuckles! Here is the low down:

Anti Monkey Butt Powder is a new product, invented by motocross riders, designed to treat friction and irritation that can result from excess sweat. Excessive sweat can cause irritation of the buttocks and inner thighs, also known as “monkey butt”. Unlike other powders, Anti Monkey Butt has calamine and talc which gives it a cooling sensation instead of the burning that you might get from other products. Anybody who has used those other powders will know what “the burning” is we are referring to. [RobinLeedyAssoc, 2009]

Lady Anti Monkey Butt is fabulous and really silky smooth. I really was a bit embarrassed to open and try but heck, I am all about trying products, what can they hurt? So I was PLEASANTLY satisfied at the feeling, smell, and sensation of feeling dry. I am a jogger so this was fabulous for me, I truly do not like the icky feeling. The ingredients are ever so simple too, corn starch, calamine, and talc. Sweet! “Butt” hey, Anti Monkey Butt was originally for men and they have the great ladies edition in pink! So while you are still laughing, grab your composure to enter this great giveaway for these fantastic items because ONE winner will receive both Anti Monkey Butt and Lady Anti Monkey Butt.

Here are the deets for these giveaways to stuff your stockings (though these will be a bit late for Christmas, I apologize for the delay in posting):

Mandatory Entry: Let me know which product you want and why? Aside from the information I told you above.

Extra Entries: Follow my blog, enter my other giveaways, follow me on Twitter, tweet this giveaway (daily RT’s available), blog this giveaway with a link back to me (worth 5 entries), Fan The Fish on Facebook, Fan Softlips if you want Softlips, Fan Monkey Butt if you want Monkey Butt

CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 23RD
@ 11:59PM ARIZONA TIME
*The Five Fish did receive products in conjunction with the post,
however, my opinion was not swayed in any manner
Posted on

Unilever Beauty Products Giveaway

Do you recall the beauty tip of the day? Where some wonderful tips were posted on keeping fresh looks, beauty tips, tricks, and even some fabulous new ideas? Well I am ever so thankful and grateful to bring you this post of the wonderful products that were reviewed and now presented in a giveaway! I shared with you my post on my beauty tips using these products and now I am able to share with you the ones I enjoyed using the most and I will share an assortment pack (much like the one I received) for you to receive as well.

The Unilever assortment of products ranges from Ponds cleansing cloths, Dove deodorant (in a smashingly fresh smell which is now my favorite!), Dove hair care, Vaseline and QTips to name a few. These wonderful products can be used daily as part of your beauty regiment or as needed.

I have to confess that my favorites are the deodorant in the fresh citrus, the QTips and the cleansing cloths that I use ALL the time for removing makeup in my daily and nightly routine. The Vaseline is fabulous for removing sometimes stingy eye makeup and even for moisturizing the rough areas like knees or elbows. I also like to use on the twins bums as they need a little TLC from time to time. The QTips are fabulous because they are the vanity pack with the slide box. They fit snugly and perfectly on your counter-top for easy access and use. Now win an assortment pack of Unilever products, beauty, hair, and all health!

Mandatory entry: Tell me what your beauty regimen is and what products (even Unilever products) you like to use in addition to the products mentioned above.

Extra Entries: Follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, Fan The Fish, Tweet this giveaway with @KariewithaK so I can track your tweets (to be fair, and can tweet daily, enter one of my other current giveaways, blog about this giveaway (worth 3 entries)

CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 23RD
@ 11:59 ARIZONA TIME.
Posted on

Graine de Vie SEED Body Care & Giveaway

Some of you may know I am very particular about my body care. I truly like products that I can read and understand the name of the ingredients, not some laboratory name that requires a kindergarten phonetic to pronounce the words. I recently had the opportunity to review SEED Body Care courtesy of Buzz Cooperative.

Graine de Vie SEED Body Care is co-founded by Rebecca Gournay in an effort to find a detoxifying and healthy alternative lifestyle when she was on her quest to conceive a child. During her research she and her husband began discussing the health benefits of wine and of course grape seeds. One day Rebecca came upon a spa product made with grape seed and the rest is history. Grape seed is packed with powerful antioxidants, Vitamin E, and beneficial essential fatty acids, ingredients shown to promote healthy skin and help prevent premature aging.

The full size products I reviewed were the grape seed enriched conditioning hair shampoo bar, grape seed enriched moisturizing body soap and the grape seed enriched moisturizing body lotion. When I received the products I immediately tore into all of them, I wanted to know how they smelled. I have a thing for the way items smell. I was in heaven. The body soap and lotion each have a wonderful citrus scent, very true to the smell of grape seed oil and or grapefruit. The shampoo bar had a tinge of scent even though it was the unscented bar.

I showered with each of the cleansing products and overall here is how they stacked up for me:

Shampoo Bar
I can honestly say that I was overly excited about the shampoo bar until I finished using it the first time. My hair felt almost stripped and very unmanageable. I chalked up the results as just the products initial use and that after styling and drying my hair would be easier to manage. I was highly disappointed that the result was not to my liking and my hair still felt brittle, dry, unmanageable, and I quite literally had an afro after the initial use. I even made sure to use when I was on my four day stretch of no wash days to ensure maximum results. I firmly believe in washing your hair only once or twice a week, so I was disappointed. However, the shampoo bar is wonderful for my son and husband who each have very short hair. I will say that the lather and bubbly are fantastic, a smooth creamy lather and not too bubbly but enough for my personal liking. The conditioning quality was less than I had expected, but again, could be the product was not jiving with my hair as I have very fine, thick, dry hair.

Body Bar
I love the body bar and the exfoliating seeds. I quite literally used this bar until only a smidge was left. Again the creamy, bubbly, and lather are excellent, but the bar is a bit drying. I noticed the primary ingredient is sodium palmate and sodium cocoate which is a palm and coconut based oil which tends to be on the drying side however, palm is EXCELLENT for lather and cleansing and coconut is excellent for creating a nice hard bar of soap. So all in all I felt wonderfully clean but a bit dry.

Body Lotion
Now, the lotion is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!! I love the smooth, creamy, almost silky feel to the lotion. Very nice when applied after the use of the body bar, they definitely compliment one another if your skin is a bit on the dry side after use. The fragrance is a light citrus, invigorating, awakens your sense of smell and is just a wonderful feeling on your skin.

All of the SEED Body Care products are paraben free, preservative free, and contain no artificial colors or animal products, a truly vegan experience.

You now have the opportunity to experience SEED for yourself here is how:

Mandatory entry:
Go to the SEED website and tell me which products you would like to try because you are getting THREE full size products to win yourself!

 Extra entries:

  • Fan SEED on Facebook
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook (to your right)
  • Follow my blog and tell me you do (again, stage right)
  • Follow me on Twitter, tell me you do
  • Tweet this giveaway using @KariewithaK & #seedbody so I can see your Tweets and give you credit
CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 17TH 
@ 3:00PM ARIZONA TIME. 
Posted on

Spice Up Date Night Eden Fantasy’s Flower Balm

Who says Christmas is just for kids and kids “toys?” Eden Fantasy’s is a great way to share with the one you love by warming up those cold winter nights, afternoons, and everything in between.

Eden Fantasy’s is chock full of wonderful gifts such as vibrators, sex toys, love games, adult toys and even lingerie to get in the “ho, ho, ho” mood of the season. But the giving doesn’t have to end there. Enhance these gifts with wonderful stocking stuffers such as the Flower Balm.

I enjoyed the Flower Balm from Eden Fantasy’s for review because it is mostly vegan, is silky smooth to apply all over as a massage balm and smells heavenly. For the ultimate in pleasure and sensation be sure, or have your partner be sure, to apply to your “flower” for a truly decadent gift of pleasure.

A truly unique and arousing experience upon using the flower balm and this stocking stuffer idea is sure to have you wishing you were a naughty girl all year. The Flower Balm generates a warm, tingling sensation that heightens your arousal and stimulates your “flower” area by increasing blood flow.
The scent is very subtle, refreshing, relaxing and can be enjoyed as just a light body balm with the smell of mandarin and mint.

A perfect stocking stuffer where the packaging is no larger than the size of a jewelry gift box and is tastefully decorated so as not to offend the “virgin” eyes. Stockings may not all you will be stuffing with love this year so be sure to add Eden Fantasy’s to your list of loving gifts for her and for him to share with her.

Want to enjoy Eden Fantasy’s for yourself with your loved one? Here is how you can enter to win a $25 Eden Fantasy’s Gift Card to shop for your love and desire this holiday season:


Mandatory Entry:
Visit Eden Fantasy’s and come tell me what gift you would like to see erect under your tree. (Please leave me your email address too so I may contact you for your winnings. If you have a blogger account, please make your profile public for access to your email address.)

Extra Entries:

  • Follow @EdenFantasys on Twitter for new product updates, great articles, featurettes.
  • Follow my blog
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Blog this giveaway with a link to The Five Fish
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway (daily RT’s allowed) Baby its cold outside but I’m keeping hot with this giveaway from @EdenFantasys and @KariewithaK http://tiny.cc/7ciUB
CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 13TH
@ 11:59PM ARIZONA TIME
Best of luck!
Posted on

Gaga for Mama Babywear

Gifts can be so universal and interchangeable, who says “rules” have to be set for gifts, the way they are given and the way they are received. I personally enjoy gifts that can be given to multiple people which is why I want to share with you Gaga for Mama Babywear for babes and their mothers.

“Thank you, Mom.”

Have you ever wished that your baby could tell you just how much he or she appreciates everything that you do? Your wish has just come true with Gaga for Mama babywear!

“Thank you” is such a simple, yet powerful phrase. And, I bet you would agree with me when I say that as mothers we sure don’t hear it as often as we would like. Well, now you can! Gaga for Mama baby-wear features high quality bodysuits, printed with inspiring sayings, that will make you feel appreciated and loved every day. They also offer coordinating pants, bibs, and sun hats to make a complete outfit for your baby.

The Gaga for Mama baby-wear line is sold at http://www.DoubleUpBooks.com. Double Up Books is the only bookstore that specializes in books for and about twins, triplets, and multiples for parents and children. Double Up Books will be giving away 2 Gaga for Mama bodysuits to 1 lucky winner. [DoubleUpBooks.com, 2009] *The Five Fish did not receive any products in conjunction with this giveaway.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Visit the babywear store within Double Up Books by going to http://bit.ly/3aXL7 and tell me which 2 bodysuits you would like if you were the winner (please include size and color info).

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow Double Up Books on Twitter and tell me you do
  • Sign up for the mailing list for awesome money saving deals, new arrivals and MORE!
  • Follow my blog, or tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter, or tell me you already do
  • Tweet this giveaway (daily RT’s available)-  I’m going Gaga for Mama with @DoubleUpBooks & @KariewithaK http://tiny.cc/RFnJz
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook, (widget to the right)
CONTEST ENDS  DECEMBER 10TH 
@ 11:59 ARIZONA TIME
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!
Posted on

Supporting Toddlers Feet with Pediped

A few weeks ago I had a post about a great shoe company on a great mission for a great cause
with a great non-profit. You recall?
NO?! Where have you been hiding! Well here is that post again so you can refresh your memory.

That company was Pediped and I was unsure on how to react to their shoes. I mean kids shoes are kids shoes right? Why all the technology. Well I will tell you why all the technology, the specifications, the tweaks and modifications to standard shoes. Our kids need great shoes for healthy feet and an overall healthy stance.

I bought Big G new shoes at the beginning of the school year and he picked them out because they were “cool.” He grew out of those shoes like PRONTO and I was wondering why he A) ran funny and B) why he was walking funny. I figured out it was the shoes. All this unnecessary garbage in the construction of the shoe and flat out he outgrew the shoe. So while hunting down shoes I also came across Pediped for the Gift Guide and I was so happy they let me have a pair of shoes to review for Grant.

Pediped has this fabulous innovation of soft rubbery shoes that reduce the shock in children’s feet. Pediped also allows for an adjustment insert for growing feet so that the shoes last longer and the uppers are a sturdy leather to ensure even longer wear.

We know how kids blow through shoes in school, so the sturdy leather construction with the flexible rubber sole, not a hard rubber sole, allow kids to get full use out of their shoes and they last well past the time they were “assumed” to expire per normal shoe standards. Did I also mention how his gait is completely different in these shoes?

Grant has a tendency to walk on the balls of his feet and in these shoes he uses his entire foot which is healthy for posture and for your feet. Needless to say the Pediped Flex Fit shoes that we received to review are a big winner in our home and a must buy again since they have the flex fit system with the added insole to extend the life and wear of the shoes. Nowadays shoes are not cheap and the ones that are cheap, in my opinion, are not working for my kids for everyday walking, running, and being a kid.

I know Grant loves his shoes. He truly enjoys them and the style is fashionable, they are not the standard white, blend in shoes like everyone else, they have style, pizzaz, and go with just about everything the boy wears. He personally chose the Kyle in Navy and Orange and we like them because he can put them on everyday without a ton of hassle with the laces. He was really struggling and he likes that they are personal to him since he picked them out.

Pediped is a great choice for parents who are concerned with the development of their children’s feet and is approved by the American Pediatric Medical Association for healthy foot development. [Pediped, 2009]

So if you are looking for shoes this year for your tot, toddler, or small school aged child, checkout Pediped.

Posted on

Sustainable Shoes with J-41 (Jambu) Shoes

What woman doesn’t love shoes….seriously women love shoes, jewelry, handbags. So the kids reviewed shoes and I thought…why can’t mama review some shoes. I sought out shoes and I wanted shoes that are rugged, functional, classy, comfortable. I stumbled upon J-41 (Jambu) shoes and the collection is phenomenal.

Here are all the features and benefits of this wonderful brand of shoes:

  • Outsoles are made with partially recycled rubber
  • Jeep Designed and trail rated outsoles
  • Quick drying and odor free sock lining
  • Jeep® Memory Foam Footbed Cradles Feet
  • Sizes Range from 6-11
  • ARV $119.00
  • Buy online @ Planetshoes.com

I could list the endless benefits of these shoes but the truth is these are the only shoes I have worn since I received them, they are truly like walking on air. These shoes are stable, light, and seriously the most comfortable shoes I have worn in a long time.

The fabulous feature of this line of shoes is that they are not just trail rated and for hiking. They are versatile from a wedge, sandals, boots. The line also comes in a vegan option for those who are looking for the environmentally friendly option. These shoes are great for the everyday. I reviewed the exact model and color of shoe shown above. Literally, I could die in these shoes. The insoles are probably my favorite part of the shoe.

In Arizona you basically wear shoes to keep you from getting burned by the concrete, if you talk to anyone and everyone who lives in the Phoenix metro area they are always barefoot. Just our “thang” and or we wear flip-flops, you know, Flo-Jo’s! So when I wear shoes I DESPISE wearing socks, I mean truly despise socks, they make my feet feel hot sweaty, nasty and like something is growing. I only wear socks when working out. I love to wear shoes with no socks or hose but the problem is that my shoes stink from wearing no socks with my feet in there. (Mind you…I think feet are the nastiest thing created on a human being) I am just ecstatic these shoes DO NOT stink. None! Nada. Love them and they are super soft. Seriously I could go on and on about how sporty, functional, funky and fun these shoes are, so I will spare you my enthusiasm.

I will let you show me your enthusiasm about shoes, and better yet, about this line of shoes!

If you don’t believe me well check them out for yourself, or better yet, enter to win a fabulous pair for yourself! You pick the pair. Here are your details:

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Go to J-41.com and or PlanetShoes and tell me which pair you would want for yourself and why? This is the pair you will win too!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Fan J-41 on Facebook
  • Follow my blog, tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter, tell me you do
  • Tweet this giveaway! Be sure to add @KariewithaK so I can see you tweeting. (Once Daily tweets allowed)
  • Blog about this giveaway
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (for each giveaway entry come back and leave me a comment example: 3 giveaways, 3 comments)
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
 CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 1, @ 11:59 
ARIZONA TIME (MST)
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!  

Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog

HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!

Posted on

Pillsbury Thanksgiving Fun Pack

Anyone ready for Thanksgiving? How about the holidays period? Not me! In fact I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house again this year and I am just at a loss. Totally unprepared. I am in the process of baking my pies (yes they are my signature…move over Martha!) and I know not everyone loves pie, especially the kids.

Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark provided me with a great holiday alternative, cookies! Plus they provided me with some fun Thanksgiving fun goodies.

Cookies you ask? Yes cookies. Wonderful sugar cookies. Kids love sugar cookies. And these wonderful delights (in moderation of course Mom) have a Turkey shaped right into them to celebrate the season. These cookies will help to celebrate and are a great alternative to pies. If your kids happen to object to pie.

Keep in mind these are the great Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ and they are for a limited time! Be sure to get them now before the holiday hits and you wish you bought some. Or if you want, you can win some here along with a great Thanksgiving gift pack to help relieve all your stress!

Thanksgiving Fun Pack:
Coupon for a free package of the Pillsbury Thanksgiving Shape® sugar cookies, as well as a turkey-shaped stress reliever, pencil, and finger puppet

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Tell me what stresses you out about the holidays that your stress Turkey will help to relieve….and of course the cookies or what is most fun about Thanksgiving to you! Comfort food…ahhhh.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Blog this giveaway
  • Follow my blog
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway (once daily entry, ONLY after the mandatory entry has been met)
 CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 25TH @ 
MIDNIGHT ARIZONA TIME
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!  
Posted on

Interactive Learning JumpStart Learn N’ Play

Can you see my kids theme yet? I know….more learning. But hey, learning is fun! Here is where learning is really fun and total play time for kids. All within moderation of course. I talked with the folks at JumpStart thanks to my fabulous friend Carissa Rogers (have you met her too? No…go check out her GoodN’Crazy Blog!) and they provided me with access to their online site. If you don’t know JumpStart…YOU SHOULD! Here is a little bit of background:

jumpstart.com, Karie Herring, thefivefish.com, learning games

JumpStart is about 3D interactive, adventure, learning games that stimulate the mind through critical thinking skills, math and reading, this allows your child to “get a real jumpstart in life (JumpStart, 2009).” 


Since 1991, Knowledge Adventure® has set the standard in kids’ software by creating the finest educational products for use in the home and the classroom. Today, Knowledge Adventure’s JumpStart® and MathBlaster® products invite kids to learn through endless gaming adventures in 3D virtual worlds. By blending learning and entertainment, Knowledge Adventure’s adventure-based learning inspires kids’ minds through immersed play. A subsidiary of Knowledge Holdings, Inc., the company is privately-held and based in Torrance, California. For more information, go to www.knowledgeadventure.com and www.jumpstart.com. (Jumpstart.com, 2009)

Now we were already a big JumpStart family as we bought Grant JumpStart software for the PC last year to help boost his kindergarten and first grade learning skills. The games are fabulous as they are created to be very age appropriate and allow your child to grow by leaps and bounds.

The online games are just as interactive and literally HOURS of fun. Grant asks each day to play his JumpStart game which is so good to hear from a mom’s perspective as I would rather he play his JumpStart game than the Wii. Nothing against the Wii, but his current Wii games do not push his brain, they basically allow him to veg out. When he first logged in he was required to create his own “Jumpee” where the character looks like him. From there he moves into the play area and he can choose the different areas to explore. Right now

Right now he is in the underwater adventure in Adventureland and loving it! Adventureland is aimed at kindergarten to second grade. He told me the other day, “Mom, Dad, I really like playing JumpStart. I love playing it over Lego StarWars.”

*GASP
   My Son?
Loves to learn over Lego Star Wars?
Mark the calendar!

So each day that he has good days at school he is able to spend 30 minutes playing the JumpStart games online. We can already see the difference in his learning with the advanced reading, his critical thinking and he is overall excited about learning and keeping his mind engaged. Pretty soon he will be able to move up to Futureland which is designed for third to fifth graders. Have no fear, younger kids can get in on the fun too with Storyland for the preschool kiddos.

But the games are not limited to just online and the PC software that we have purchased in the past. JumpStart also offers two Wii games, Escape from Adventure Island and Pet Rescue for an even greater learning experience for children. Overall the games offered with JumpStart are focused on 3-10 year olds which, in my opinion, is the prime learning age to really spark imagination and push the learning envelope. JumpStart isn’t only for kids, parents can join in on the adventure fun as well, plus JumpStart offers a parents forum.

JumpStart offers the one year membership for $79.99 for unlimited playtime for the full year and here is the best deal you will hear all year JumpStart offers a LIFETIME membership of $149.99. Did you see that…A LIFETIME which is a steal of a deal considering the annual membership is $79.99.

But you my wonderful readers and learners extraordinaire have the opportunity to win a 3-month subscription to test drive and love the LearnN’Play as much as we have. Here are the details to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me how your kids would jump into adventure with learning.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow my blog and tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter, tell me you do, tweet this giveaway with @KariewithaK (daily tweet entry, ONLY after the mandatory entry has been met)
  • Follow JumpStart on Twitter
  • Fan JumpStart on Facebook
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Follow my blog on Networked blogs (to the right)
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (for each giveaway entry come back and leave me a comment, 3 giveaways, 3 comments)
 CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH 
@ MIDNIGHT ARIZONA TIME.
Best of luck!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. 
Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog
 HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!
Posted on

Engaging Toddler Toys Alex Toys First Pops First Snaps

Toys can be hit and miss with kids for the holidays. Many years DH and I have hunted for THE BEST toys for the kids only to have ONE be the singular toy they play with leaving us feeling defeated with having spent hours hunting for fabulous gifts. This year we opted to find great gifts that are functional and fun for the kids and not one to be thrown into a toy box.

The twins were a bit harder to shop for this year as they are not quite little kids, they are not babies any more, they are at the precocious toddler age where everything is fun and a learning experience. They also adore Grant’s Lego’s a bit too much that I am afraid of the choke factor. Too many times have I seen Lego Heads and Lego Darth Vader in someone’s mouth, NOT FUN.

I found the First Pops and the First Snaps with Alex Toys that I so graciously received to review for the gift guide. These are fabulous! They snap and of course pop together. Not to mention the fun bright colors which keep the twins’ attention. I also love these toys not because of their click together action and bright colors but for the learning. I know you are sick of me beating the learning term into you, but learning and education are high on my priority list.

The learning for the twins is so important because they were born premature. While they were full grown preemies born at 36weeks, they are still nonetheless premature kids who have the adjusted age and so some skills are slower to them than other children. Such as the fine motor skills.

The First Pops and First Snaps are perfect for this because they have to really concentrate on hooking the pieces together. The twins need to have a sharp eye and a steady hand to click them together to make their wonderful creation. The pieces are also perfect size for their little hands where the toys are not too big where they are fumbling and not too small where they could put them in their mouths and possibly choke. The material is also wonderful because it is a soft, rubbery plastic feel, very pliable but not too pliable and can withstand the beating any toddler can dish out.

Each package of First Snaps and First Pops also comes in a handy carry tote that I know my kids loved. They enjoy helping to put toys and things away in the house. So pickup time was a lot of fun, I think they emptied the bucket at least a half a dozen times while playing and picking up.

First Snaps and First Pops come in packages of 14-pieces and retail for $17.99. So they are not too overwhelming with the number of pieces and they fit right into the affordability range for those families on a budget this year for the holidays. But these are not the only toys that Alex Toys has to offer, they offer a wide variety of toys for infants and toddlers, painting, reading, craft and bath toys, and style such as beaded toys, watches, and jewelry.

*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency.

alextoys.com, Karie Herring, First Snaps, thefivefish.comalextoys.com, Karie Herring, First Pops, thefivefish.com
Don’t forget to DOWNLOAD your Copy of the catalog
 HERE and all the fabulous participants, savings, and giveaways!